Students encouraged to attend new series

“Multicultural Mustangs” is a dinner and dialogue series that will begin at Stevenson University on the first Monday of every month, starting in February.

Natalie Gillard, the associate vice president of multicultural experience, said that she is sponsoring the event in order to cultivate conversations that explore all aspects of diversity in a way that is non-threatening to all groups that are explicitly being discussed. Gillard wants everyone to feel like they can join in the conversation, and that they can feel comfortable coming to the dialogue series.

Information flyer for the student event The Pulse. (Graphic courtesy of Emily Scharen)

UPCOMING EVENTS

An event in early November will correspond with the dialogue series. “The Pulse” is a forum-style event was created by Gillard with resident directors Jason Summers and Emily Scharen, as an outlet for students to voice their concerns about diversity on campus. It will be held in an environment where all students feel safe and secure while expressing their thoughts.

Gillard said, “Multicultural Mustangs is meant for everyone to participate in and to equip people with the knowledge needed to prevent them from spreading any misconceptions that they have about our diversity statement.”

There will also be free food at the event, including some sort of ethnic dish to complement a diverse conversation. The ethnic dishes will allow people to experience something different, and will give everyone the opportunity to try something they are not used to eating.

WHAT TO EXPECT

As of right now, it is unclear if speakers will be coming in to talk to the student groups. Gillard said that she wants students to take ownership of the event, and to develop the meal options and what the discussions will be about. For Black History Month in February, she wants the Black Student Union (BSU) to host Multicultural Mustangs.

Ciera King, a member of BSU, said, “I’m very excited and really looking forward to the Multicultural Mustangs dialogue series event. It sounds very fascinating and thought-provoking for all student groups to discuss diversity and culture at Stevenson University.”

Lastly, Gillard wants all students to know that this series is a place of acceptance. She urges students not to let misconceptions prevent them from attending.

Tickets for the series are free; however, they will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and Gillard will be advertising where people can RSVP. The dialogue series will take place in the Lynn Duncan Room, located on the first floor of the Rockland Center on the Owings Mills campus.